Eleven West African nationals who had been deported by the United States to Ghana have now been returned to their home countries, despite concerns that they could face torture, persecution, or other inhumane treatment. The group comprised four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one Liberian and one Gambian. They had filed a lawsuit seeking to halt their deportation, arguing that at least eight of them had been granted protection by U.S. immigration judges because of safety concerns in their home nations.
When the case was heard in court on Tuesday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Oliver Barker‑Vormawor, told the judge that the individuals had already been removed over the weekend, rendering the suit moot. The Ghanaian government had agreed to accept the deportees on humanitarian grounds, a decision defended by President John Dramani Mahama, who said it did not constitute an endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also stressed that Ghana received no financial compensation from the United States and that the move was motivated solely by a desire to help fellow Africans.
The whereabouts of five of the deportees remain unknown, while six have been placed in Togo. Nigeria’s government said it had not been briefed about its citizens being sent to Ghana and noted that it had previously received Nigerians deported directly from the United States. The episode raises serious questions about the safety and well‑being of the individuals involved and highlights the complexities of international deportation policies, especially when deportees may face persecution in their home countries. It underscores the need for governments to prioritize human rights and the protection of those granted asylum or other forms of safety relief.
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